Pulp-settler.



H. R. coNKLlN.

PULP SETTLER.

APRLlcATloN FILED APRJ. 1915.

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

.TL-"IE ...-1.

H. R. CQNKLIN.

PULP SETTLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1915..

Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HARRY R. CONKLIN, OIE J'OPLIN, MSSOURI.

PULP-SETTLER.

, Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented duly 27, 1915.,

Application filed April 7, 1915. Serial No. 19,822.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, HARRY R. CONKLIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulp-Settlers; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in settling and decanting tanks such for example as are used in cyanid extraction plants, and the object of the invention isa modified form of tank as now used kfor the purpose of obtaining a much thicker pulp than heretofore possible, therefore causing a very much more convenient separation of the solids from the liquid, and less liquid is discharged with the pulp and at the same time allowing a clearer solution to passo to the launder.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are similarly designated: Figure 14 is a vertical central section of a settling tank embodying my invention, parts thereof being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified structure.

The tank 1 is conical in form with steepl sides not less than sixty degrees slope and is supported by a suitable supporting structure 2. The top of the tank is provided with the customary launder 3 and discharge 4. The bottom of the tank has a long depending tubular extension 5 of a length suliicientto produce not less than one third of the total hydraulic head. The extension in which the pulp solids accumulate, terminates in a well known form of discharge device consisting in this figure of a reducing element 6, a cut off and regulating valve 7 ,Y

and a liquid ejector 8.

Extending across the top of the tank 1 and launder 3 is a bridge frame-work indicated at 9 serving the double purpose as a passage for workmen, and as a support for the inlet pipe 10 for pulp, and a support for a central vertical directing tube 11 hung lfrom the bridge by hooks 12 or otherwise supported. The directing tube 11 does'not extend to the bottom of the body of the tank, thereby delivering the pulp near the bottom of conical portion 1.

The main 'feature of my invention is the long tubular extension in which the pulp ac cumulates instead of as heretofore on the bottom of the conical portion 1. The length of the tubular extension will depend on the specific gravity of the solids in the pulp. The lighter these solids, the longer will be the extension 5. The length of this extension 5 must be such that the settled pulp will be as thick as possible, consistent with a proper discharge under the hydraulic head in the apparatus.

Another important feature Iis the delivery of the pulp to be thickened as near the top of quiescent settling zone in the tubular extension as possible without restricting the free flow of the separated liquid from beneath the end of the directing tube 11 up through the supernatant liquid.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the same tank 1 as in Fig. 1 with extension 5, support 2, launder 3, launder discharge 4, bridge 9, pulpsupply 10, central directing tube 11 with its hangers 12, but another type of discharge device. ln addition to the above, l provide a compacting screw 13 operating in the extension 5 of the tank 1 and operated by a vertical shaft 14 extending up through the bridge 9 and having bearings 15 and 16 through which the shaft is free to slide.

Mounted on the shaft by means of bearings 17 and 18, is a frame 19, said frame prevented from longitudinally sliding on said shaft by suitable stops, as collars 20. The frame 19 is forked and secured to the shaft 14 within the fork is a worm wheel 21 driven by a worm 22 also mounted on the frame and actuated by a small electric motor 23 secured to the frame. The shaft 14, frame 19,' and connected parts are counter-weighted by a counter-weight 24 suspended on a flexible connection 25 running over guide pulleys 2G mounted on the bridge 9. The frame hasI an extension or lug 27 riding against one ot the vertical members 9 of the bridge structure and travels vertically with the shaft 14e between an upper and a lower tappet 28 and 29 adjustable on a vertically slidable rod 30 mounted in guides 31 on the bridge member 9 or otherwise. This rod has at a suitable point a conductive Contact 32 arranged to close circuit between two electric terminals 33 of an electric circuit 34 containing a solenoid 35 whose movable core is normally retracted by a spring 37. This core is connected to a valve of well known type on an air cylinder 38 whose piston is ,arranged to operate a slide discharge valve accumulates in the extension and becomes compacted, the screw rises, lifting its counter-weighted driving mechanism and shaft 14. As the shaft 14. is rotated slowly in one direction only, the frame 19 carried thereby has a tendency to swing about the shaft in the opposite direction and this is prevented by the sliding engagement of the frame extension 27 on the guide 9a. As the extension reaches the upper limit of travel, it strikes tappet 28, raises rod 30, closes the electric circuit 34, and opens the valve 39, thereby discharging the tubular extension 5 of the tank into any suitable receptacle as a car. contents of the cylindrical extension have dropped out sufficiently to lower the level of the pressing screw 13, its shaft and 'the frame 19, until the frame extension contacts with the lower tappet 29 to move the control rod 30 to break the electric circuit at 32, 33, thereby permitting spring 37 to reverse the air control of cylinder 38 to suddenly close the valve 39. The screw 13 is carried by the compacted pulp down the extension 5 during the discharge of the pulp, and thereby' automatically controls discharging operation.

I claim:

1. In a settling and decanting tank, the combinationwith a tank body, and an overflow launder at its top, of a straight tubular solids-accumulating extension on the bottom of much smaller diameter than said body, discharge means at the bottom of said extensionand a directing tube discharging into the tank proximate the extension.

The discharge continues until the ln a settling and decanting tank. the combination with a conical tank body and an overflowlaunder at the top of a straight central cylindrical tubular solids-accumniulating extension. of a vertical height not less than one third the. total vertical height and discharge means at the bottom of said extension operating under the combined hydraulic head in said tank and extension.

3. ln a settling and decanting tank, the combination with a conical tank body andV an overfiow launder at the top of a straight central cylindrical tubular solids-accumulating extension. of a vertical height not less than one third the total vertical height, discharge means at the bottom of said eXtension, and a central directing tube in said body in alinementwith said extensionv and discharging at the bottom of said body over said extension.

4. The combination with al settling tank of a tubular, solids-accumulating. extension on the bottom discharge mechanism on the extension, and means controlled by the accumulation of solids in said extension to automatically control Vsaid discharge mechanism.

The combination with a settling tank,V

of a tubular, solids-accumulating extension thereon, discharge means on the extension and means to compact the solids in said eX- tension as they accumulate.

6. The combination with a settling tank, of a tubular, solids-accumulating extension thereon, discharge means on the extension, and means to compact the solidsV in said eX- tension as they accumulate, said means arranged to automatically rise asV the solids become. compacted. l

7 The combinationwith a settling tank, of a tubular, solids-accumulating extension at the bottom thereof, a compaeting screw in the extension, a shaft for said screw eX- tending above the tank, driving mechanism for the shaft carried thereby,Y and a counter-weight for said shaft and mechanism.

8. The combination with a settling tank, of a vertical tubular, solids-collecting eX- tension at the bottom thereof, a valve mechanism forV said extension, a Vcompacting screw in the extensiom a vertical shaft for said screw extendingV above said tank, a frame mounted on the shaft, driving mechanism for said shaft mounted in thc frame, means to prevent the frame from rotating while permitting vertical movement, electromagnetic mechanism to control the actuation ot said valve mechanism, and means actuated by said frame to control said circuit.

9. The combination with a settling tank, of a tubular, solids-accumulating extension thereon. discharge means on the extension, means to compact the solids in said extenafi sion as they accumulate, and a central directing tube extending through the tank and discharging proximate said extension.

10. The combination With a settling tank, of a tubular, solids accumulating extension at the bottom thereof, a compacting screvvl in the extension, a shaft for said screw extending above the tank', driving mechanism for the'shaft carried thereby, and a counter- 

